Randy Alcorn wrote a definitively researched book called Heaven. He presumes, as do I, that God wants us not only to go to heaven but to know about heaven. He provides us with enough information about heaven to envision it and long for it, but not so much that we can fully grasp it with complete understanding.  “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)  As an atheist friend of mine once admitted, the one thing that Christians have that others do not is hope.”  We have hope because we know in whom we’ve put our trust. We have hope because Jesus died and rose from the grave, with power to raise us  after death. We have hope because we know how our story ends, in heaven.

 

But have you ever studied the bible to learn how we get there? In the same Thessalonians (v13-17) passage Paul writes that those who have “fallen asleep” (a euphemism for death) will rise first, before those who are still living. How is this possible that when our bodies are placed in the ground (or wherever) that we are at once in heaven? The bible explains that when we no longer need our physical earthly bodies, our spirit goes at once to be with God in his heavenly dwelling place. “The dust returns to the ground from where it came, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7) Paul similarly wrote, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the lord,” (2 Corinthians 5:8) and “to die is to be with Christ.” (Philippians 1:23) Jesus told the criminal on the cross next to him “today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

 

Can you imagine that moment when you will have taken that first step from this life into the life that lasts forever, from this world instantly into heaven? (I’m presuming you’ve chosen heaven as your default destination! Sadly, not everyone does.) That’s how the bible describes heaven. There’s no time for final words or prayers or actions, no opportunity to make up for lost time. There is just this life, and then in an instant, the next, a new life that goes on forever. For the believer it will be a life of unending joy and revelation.

 

This “present heaven” as Alcorn terms it, is a physical place where conscious spiritual beings live until God miraculously and mysteriously raises their perfected heavenly bodies. Luke 16:22-31 tells of Lazarus and the rich man being very much conscious in heaven and hell. Believers who have died will have a great reunion with others who have gone before them, being present in the Lord, while those still living wait on earth for Christ’s return.

 

The bible says at death, people face the judgment of faith that determines whether they go to heaven or hell. It is based on the decision made while they were alive as to whether they followed Jesus or followed their own ways. Unbelievers will face The Great White Throne of judgment of faith just before the beginning of the new earth. This will be their chosen judgment for rejecting Christ and his commands. Believers will face a judgment of “works,” not one that determines salvation, but rather reveals our eternal heavenly rewards. As in a purifying fire, the essence of precious metal is revealed, so will only the pure essence of how we lived and invested our life survive and pass into heaven, rewarded. All else will pass away.

 

Dr. David Jeremiah and author of Escape the Coming Night summarized the purpose of the book of Revelation (and this discussion on heaven):

1. So we will be ready to enter our next life

2. To help others get ready

 

Let’s make sure we live with purpose and passion so as to reveal that which will live on forever – in heaven.